Machinery for trimming printing plates



v Oct. 13, 1936. w, F, HUGK MACHINERY FOR TRIMMING PRINTING PLATES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1935 wan.

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y l f Oct. 13, 1936. w. F. HUCK MACHINERY FOR TRIMMING PRINTING PLATES Filed March 5, 1955 B Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 13, 1936 AlifrfELo fs TATS-,Es

MACHINERY ,j FOR fTRIlWltIING PRINTING PLATES S19 claims. (clgfzongg) This invention r-elatesgtoa machinerfor cutting the straightedges of-a curved-printing plate and more particularlygto power driven -vcutter' mem- ,bers whichfare-.adjustably mounted;on asupporting structure in-cutting relation with the straight edges ofsaid printing plate ;'Ihe principalobject ofthe, inventionisfto provide Vpower -dri-ven -cutters and Y means :whereby -said cutters may be arranged in a cutting relation with the straight -edges of a printing plate andfmay; also befadjustedV to.a plurality of positions to cut plates to-.any one- :of-a `plurality of dimensions as desired.

gitudinal -grooves `in l a plate supporting member, .also fmeans which is adapted to -maintain the cutters in -a fixed cutting position ,with relation to theplate edges and saidfgroovesfin the supporting member. ,Itisaa'furthergobjecttogprovidea mounting; for said power'drive members whereby saidfmembers may be adjusted in an arcuate i path concentric to Ythecurveo'f the Aprinting plateandfurtherto lprovide .a means for latchingthe-power drive members in one of a iplurality of positions Ato thereby cut a -plate-to anyone-'of a pluralityr'of dimensionsas desired.

lt is also an object to fprovidegaf-machne for cutting the `straight edges of gafcurvedprinting plate which is of generally improved construction, whereby the device willfbe simple, durable and inexpensivein construction, aswell as convenient, practical, s erviceablefand-y efcient in use.

With-the foregoing and other-,objects in View which will appear vas the description proceeds, the invention v4resides -in thecombination and arrangement ofparts, and in the I details of constructionhereinafter described.

'I he preferred embodiment Yof the v invention is illustrated` in the 4accompanying drawings, :Where- 1n:

Figure 1 is an end elevational-View of armachine for-cutting the straight `edges `of Acurved printingplates with the partsfmounted thereon according to VVthis invention, and showing apart thereof in section;

Figure 2 is a side elevation .of the structure shown in Figure 1 as taken in the direction of the arrow Zon Figure 1, withparts brokenaway; and

Figure ,3fis an enlarged detail of the latching mechanism with partsbrokenwy.

The machine generally comprises V-a frame structure, a portionof which is shown at I I land abed I 2 rsecured to, s aid fra me. A ,longitudinal screw I-,3V hasitsendsrotatably mountedtin bearings` IA, .-l5,secured to thefbed structure, `andinas `anhand,wheellL6 secured at one end thereof.

lAsupportf I1 is .adapted tohave a printing plate P mounted thereon, Yand comprises a substantially semicylindricalrnember, hav-ing, awallv, I..8at\ each end thereof, anda screw threaded-nut I9.forme.d at the, lower .portion .of saidV wall, `which.nutis mounted.` on ,the longitudinal `screw .1.3. -,Anti friction rollers 2 I .are .mounted :on stud`s..22, vextendinginwardly from inner side ,wallportio'ns 22S-:239i the supportv I1, `and ride ontheupper surface ofLanges24-124 formed on .theabedll Another set of antifriction rollers .25 .are mounted onstuds` 26` belowI the rollers ,.2 I-:ZI andengage the ,lower surface. of the ilangesIM-TZII.` Y It ,will be seen that when the longitudinal screw, I 3,is.ro,tate d.by `-rneans of .the handwheel I 6, the support I 1 ,Y is adapted to A,be freely` moved along..the bed1l2. Said plate support V4I1 is-also provided ,with ,a rnumber of longitudinal .grooves 21 ,alongeach side thereofor 4a purpose which Willtbe herenafterreferredto. J'Ifheplate P restsupon the outer surface ofthe supporti I1 .-and'is adapted to .be clamped thereon between Aa movable end'clamp, 28 and a stationary clamp lug 29 on said support. The said movable clarnnhas a-screwconnection-.with a screw mem- Y ber 31,'fand isslidable withina longitudinalvguideway 32 in the upper. surface ,of the plate support I I, thesorew being mounted in suitable endbear-v ings 33e- 34 ,secured toithe. said support. A hand wheelis-y provided rat the outer end ofthe-screw member-,3l .to r.otate same and thereby `move the clamp28into or out of a plate Aclamping position. Another supporting structure is provided at the forwardrleft, hand end of the machine .as -viewed from Figure ,2, which preferably comprises two curved side arms or -wings.36- 3 6, which-are'preferablyintegrally joined at. their lower ends .and aresecured to a pad 31 on the frame II. Curved ways 38-=38. ar eprovded on the -arrns 3 6, .which V ways areconcentric .with the axis or curved-suring nose 43, and each lugv is adjustably secured to the arms 36 by means of a bolt 44, which passes through a clearance opening 45 therein, as shown Vin Figure 3. A screw 46 provided for each lug,

has a screw` connection with the' rear'end of .a

lug and is also rotatably mounted in an anchor the Vlug42 may be adjusted.

` Two rotary cutters 48-48 are provided to cut stud 41 onk the periphery of the arm. Thus, by Vloosening the bolt 44 and rotating the screw 46,

the'straight edges 49--49 ofthe nplateP simultaneously, each cutter being mounted at the ends 0f 'said shaft 51j andl is confinedbetween a iiange of motor drive shafts 5|-5I of their respective driving motors 52-52. Each motor is mounted on bracket members 53-53 and each bracket Y member has an arcuate portion-which is slidably Y eccentric portion 58 thereon. A latch member 59A his'rctatably mounted'onthe eccentricportion 58 .66, atthe end of said eccentric, `andthe end of the bearing 55: Y The end'of the shaft 5l opposite the eccentric, entends beyond the'bearing 55 and hasY Y ahand lever .50 secured thereto to rotate' same, and

,bears against said-grip handle therebyjadjust the position kof said latch. rThe said shaft isalso adapted to belocked against 'ro'- tation after an'adjustment is` made, by meansY of a boltiil,l which passes through a -bore Y6,2 in the shaft, andwhich isadapted 4to be drawn .up tight by means of a handle 63 which nasa screw connection, with a threaded end on said bolt. f The latch 59has a hook 64 provided thereon iat 'its outer end, which is adapted to Vbecome engagei with a nose 43 of oneofthe lugs '42 and is further providedwith'meansfto normally bias said hook toward thelugs 42. Saidbiasing means includes a strap 65 whichy hasdorne end secured to/ thelateh,.while theopposite end thereof is bent outward into alignmentwith the grip lhandle portion 5,6t o fjthebracket member53, and'has a flat Vspring blade 66 Asecured theretoeplwhich.,springs 56. Y Ajs previously stated, the machine is adaptedv to Y' eutlthe straight edges of curved plates and to vcut Vsaid platestoany onerrofra plurality of dimensions as`- desired. l Before cutting Vthe longitudinal -grooves21 in the plate support I1, thenumber of `varioussizes of plates, which Vit is desired to cut, areiirst determined, and one groove is cut on each side of,L the plate supportV for eachdof the various sizes of plates at apoint which coincides with the line upon which the edges of the plate are to be cut, the widthrof the groove being sufficiently large `toprovide clearance on each side o f the'cutter. In Figure 1, the three lowermost grooves indicated vat 21d, 21h and ,2'Ic are provided V,for the cutting of threeV individual sizes ofplates, "the lower Y grooves 21a being provided for plates, the edges of which are approximately 180 apart, and the grooves 21c"beingprovided for plates, the edges of Whichiwould be about apart.` When positioned on fa printing cylinder, the i plates Y would'require two plates to `a cylinder while the Y Y Vwhich are not sufficiently, different inthe dimen-` 'isi 120 plates would require three plates toa `cyl-v inder.- The uppermost grooves are-shown wider than the others to provide fortwo sizes of plates sion between tobe cut. l i

` One lug 42 is provided for each edge of plates of theredges to permit separate slots Ydifferent dimensions, there being six lugs prO'- V.53 and the kcutter 48.

Yposition of the cutter to maintain the desired clearance relation with respectrto a groove 2l, any minor adjustments can be quickly made by releasing the clamping handle 63 and adjusting the positionV of the eccentric 58 by means of the handV lever 50; This adjustment will raise or lower the normal'position of the hook 64 and thus lower or raise the respective position of the motor bracket It will be observed that the latch members 59 ofthe motor and its supporting bracket, assisted Aby the rforce 'of gravity tend, to pull the hook 64 against the nose 43 of the lug 42, which thus rigid- V and their associated lugs 42 are the onlyV means required to secure the cutter and power drive membersiin an operating position. The WeightV ly Vsupports thepower drive inV position. When the power drive is to be moved to another position, the motor and its Ysupporting bracket have to be lifted a sui'licient distance,rby means of the grip handle 56 before pressing onzthe strap v65,

to permit the latchhook` 64 to swingY clear of the nose'43f i i y Y,

A gage is also provided at each side Vof the plate `support to determine the line uponfwhich a cut -is to be made on the-printing plate P. Eachgage comprises a bracket 61 which is pivotally mounted onta shaft 68;the latter having one end screwed f within -the motor support bracket 53,.'and is normally biased away'from thesurface of the-print- -ing plate `Pifby means of a,V coil spring 69 around said shaft,which` spring has one end in engagement with a portion of the gage bracket, and its opposite en'd infengagement with acollar 1| onthe shaft 68; A stop member 12 projects outwardvfromy the collar 'Il and into the path of a.v

part of 'the gage bracketjf'hto thereby nx the normal-position ofsaid bracket away from the printing plate; A straight edge. blade 13 israd- Vjustably'mounted'on the upper-end of the bracket with itsA straight edge in alignment'with the cut which is to be made,` and is secured to said bracket bymeans of bolt and nut connections .14-144. It will be noted from Figure 2, that the position'of the' gageji's'such as to permit the said straight edge to Contact the surface of Vthe printing plate P, todetermine the `cutting line, while the cutter isa certain distance awayfrom the lend of the plate P. It will be understood that the gages will remain inthe upright positionshown in Figures 1 Y and 2 only while held in such position by an operator, otherwise they will normally remain in the dotted line position indicated at 61a, Figure 1. f

Itj willbe understood thatithe invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spiritV or essential attributes thereof, and itis therefore desired thatthepresent embodimentbe considered in all `'respects as Y illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had tothe claims rather thantotheQforegoing description to indicate `the scope of the invention.

What I claimis: i Y 1 1; Ina machine for cutting the straight edges of a curved printing plate, a support for said port and cutting means. being in longitudinally movable relation with one another, means to adplate, cuttingmeans arranged invcuttingrelation Y Y with eachstraight vedge of the plate, said supconcentric'to-the curvedy surface ofthe platel to adapt .same for cutting plateszof apluralityo arcuate widths, and means :forA maintaining said cutting means'in anadjustedposition.

2:, Inra' machine for cutting the` straight' edges ofy a curved. printing plate, aisuppo-rt for-'said plate, cutting means arrangediin cuttingrelation with each straight edge `of theplate, a support foreach of2 said cutting. means, and means .to adjust: eaclnof said cutting means-.along its support in an arcuate path concentric to the curve of the printing plate.

3^.;In amachine for cutting. the straight edges ofT acurved, printing plate, a support for said plate; cutting; members arranged. in cutting relationwitheach straight edge Aofthe plate, al drive foniea'chi` cutting member, a bracket member for each cf.' said. drives, and supporting-members having-arcuate ways thereonV concentric with the curvedsurfacefof the printing plate .and adapted toihavesaid .cutter drive bracketmembers adjustably mounted thereon, whereby the cutting members-maybe adjusted to a;.pluralityof' positions along. said ways. to cut aplate to anyone ofV a plurality of dimensions as'desired.

41. In amachinefor cuttingthe straight edges of-aacurved printing plate, a. curved support for the; plate, a member having; arcuate ways con- Y centriccwith` the aXisi of the support', .and a. power drivenl cutter rotatably. supported on a bracket member.; said. bracket: member being adjustable to azpluraflity opositions along. theways' to dispose'said` cutter; in position to cuti aplate to any onefof aiplurality-of: dimensions in'respectto its Width as l desired.

5. In a machine for cuttingthe straight edges of ,afcurved'printing'plata a curved support for the plate, a member having arcuate ways, concentric with the axis of the support, power driven cutting members arranged in cutting relation with each edge of the plate, a bracket member for each power driven cutting member, said bracket membersbeing adjustable to a plurality of positions along said ways, and means to maintain said brackets in an adjusted position.

6. In a machine for cutting the straight edges of a curved printing plate, a curved support for the plate having a plurality of longitudinal grooves in the peripheral surface thereof, power driven cutting members arranged in cutting relation with each edge of the plate, a bracket member for each power driven cutting member, a member having arcuate ways concentric with the axis of the curved support and adapted to have said bracket members adjustably mounted thereon and latching means adapted to latch said brackets in a plurality of positions wherein the cutter positions will correspond with the grooves in the curved support.

7. In a machine for cutting the straight edges of a curved printing plate, a curved support for the plate having a plurality of longitudinal grooves in the outer surface thereof, motor driven cutter members arranged in cutting relation with each edge of the plate and in rotatable relation within the grooves, a bracket member for each motor, a member having arcuate ways concentric with the axis of the curved support and adapted to have said bracket members adjustably mounted thereon, lugs projecting outward from said bracket supporting member, and a latch carried by each of said motor bracket members, whereby the said brackets may be set in a fixed position in relation to the bracket supporting member with the cutters in a plate edge cutting position.

f 83 Vlin amachine for cuttingthe straightfedges of a curved printing plate, a frame, a support'fbr said printingv plate longitudinally movable along said; frame, wings extending. outward; from-each side -of'said frame and'having arcuate ways-concentric with the curve of the printingplate, motor driven cutter members arranged in cutting relation witlr'each straight edge of said plate, and brackets-to support eachmotor, said brackets being-adjustably mountedon the Ways in said'wings. 92 In a machine for cutting the straight edges of a= curved printing plate, a longitudinallyI-novable support for said plate-meansforsupporting-cutters in a cuttingrelation withthe straight edge vof' saidplate while the plate support is moved; saidjmeans including a supporting structurey having arcuate ways concentric withthe curve ofthe printing plate and arranged at either side of saidplate support, apower drive for each offsaid cutters, a bracket member associatedfwith each power'drive and being slidably mounted on said ways, and means to-x saidbracket in any. one of a number of predetermined positions, whereby a plate maybe cut to any one ofaV plurality of5 dimensions as desired.

` V10.4 In amachine for cutting the straight edges of acurvedprinting plate, a support for said plate; means for supporting cutters in-a cutting relation with the straight edges of said plate includinga supporting structure having arcuate-waysV ,member associated with each power driveV and aidaptedtoV be latcheditoany of saidlugsto place the cutters in one ofa plurality of platef'cutting positions.

11. In a machine for cutting the straight edges of a curved printing plate, a support for said plate having a curved bearing surface and having a plurality of clearance grooves in said surface, means for supporting cutters in a cutting relation with the straight edges of said plate including a supporting structure having arcuate ways concentricV with the curve of the printing plate and arranged at either side of said plate support, a power drive for each of said cutters including a motor adjustably mounted on each of said ways,

'and means to latch said motors in one of a plurality of positions including lugs on said motor supporting structure, and a latching member associated with each motor which is adapted to be latched to said lugs to thereby accurately position each cutter in a cutting relation with the plate edge and in a clearance relation with the said clearance slots in the curved support.

12. In a machine for cutting the straight edges of a curved printing plate, a support for said plate s having a curved bearing surface and having a plurality of clearance grooves in said surface, means for supporting cutters in a cutting relation with the straight edges of said plate including a supporting structure having arcuate ways straight edge aligned with the cutting edge ofV the cutter to determine the cutting position Vof said cutter, and adjustable latching means to latch fr of curved'printing plates of different widths, ai Y support for saidplates, cutting means arranged in cutting relation with each straight edge 'of the positions. v

said'motorin any of a number of accurate cutting 13. Ina machine ior cutting'theV straight edges plate,a 'support for each of said cuttingmeans, and 'means whereby each of said cutting means may be independently adjustedin an arcuate'path concentric to the curve of the printing plate to Vthereby adapt said cutting means for cutting plates mounted on said support to any one'of a plurality ofY dimensions as desired.

14. In a machine for/cutting the straight edges -of curved printing plates of diierent widths, a Y' support for the t plates, power driven cutting means arranged Vin cutting relation with eachk straight edge of the plate, and means to adjust each of said cutting means independently of the otherralong a path concentric to the axis of the curved plate, to cut platesfmounted'on said support to any one Vof a kplurality of dimensions as Y desired.V

. 15.1In a'machine forcutting the straight edges of arcurved plate, a support for the plate, said Vsupport being mounted for movement parallel to'the'straight edges of the plate,`and'a Vrotary cutter'movable toward andaway froma straight Vaso ` support beingY mounted Vfor movement parallelV edge of the plate in an arcuate path concentric to the curvature of the plate. s

16. Intra machine for cutting the straight edges of a curved plate, a support for the plate, said to the straight edges of V*the plate, a rotary cutter disposed-adjacent each straight edge of the plate, Veach of said cutters being independently' movable toward and away Yfrom the adjacent straight edge of the plate inan arcuate` path concentric tothe curvature of said plate.

.. L 17. In a machine for cutting the straight edges of, curved plates of diierent arcuate-widths, a cutter for each straight edge of the plate, each of said cutters"beingselectively movableinto any one of a plurality'ofpositions corresponding to c different plate widths, and means to support each-V of said cutters, each support including means'to of said cutters, each support including means-to guide thetsupportedV cutterin an arcuate pathY concentricV to the curvature of the'rplate during the movement of said cutter'into any selected position, and releasable meansto locate and main-V t tain each cutter in its selected position.

19. Ina machine for cutting the straightedges of curved plates of different arcuate YwidthsyaV cutter for each straight edge ofthe plate;V each of said cutters being selectively `movable Vinto any one of a plurality of positions corresponding to different plate widths, means tozsupportY each Y of said cutters, each support including means'ito guide rthe supported cutter in-an arcuate path concentric to the curvature of thegplate during the movement of said cutter into any'selected position, releasablemeans to llocate and maintain Y each'cutter in itsselected position, and means f to adjust said releasable means to vary the cutter locating effect thereof." Y t Y vWILLIAM F. I-IUCK.Y 

